Which countries can you visit with a Schengen visa ?

As part of the Schengen agreement, there are 26 countries (Schengen States) you can visit with one visa. Schengen visa is one of the best things to happen for tourist and vagabonds.

This make the Schengen Area the largest visa free travel area in the world.

Countries that are under the Schengen agreement can be visited as many times as one likes(with a valid Schengen visa) and transit between them without further immigration formalities allowing one to literally walk between borders of the Schengen countries holding a cup of coffee.

Update: Croatia becomes 27th country to join Schengen Agreement, which means you can visit Croatia on a Schengen visa.

Here is an example of my friends in Dreilandereck (the three countries point) each standing in different Schengen countries (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium).

The list of countries are mentioned below. Click on any country below to know visa information about them :

Can you visit UK with a Schengen visa ?

No. Schengen visa cannot be used to visit UK (by extension, England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales). You will need to apply for UK visa to visit United Kingdom.

Can I return to the Schengen area after leaving it?

Depending on what is stated on your visa sticker, you may or may not be allowed to re-enter the Schengen area. If your visa shows MULT in the No. of Entries section (E), you have a multiple entry visa and can use your Schengen visa as many times as you like before it expires (Field C).

But if the number of entries on your visa is mentioned as ‘one’, then you can use your Schengen visa only once. So be careful when you will enter or exit a Schengen region.

Is Romania part of Schengen Zone ? Can I visit Romania with a Schengen Visa ?

Yes you can visit Romania if you hold a Schengen visa (ideally Multi entry if you plan to enter Schengen zone again), although Romania is NOT part of the Schengen Agreement, although there has been talks of integrating her into the Schengen area.

Is Bulgaria part of Schengen Zone ? Can I visit Romania with a Schengen Visa ?

Yes you can visit Bulgaria if you hold a Schengen visa (ideally Multi entry if you plan to enter Schengen zone again), but Bulgaria is NOT part of the Schengen Agreement, although there has been talks of integrating her into the Schengen area.

Is Cyprus part of Schengen Zone ? Can I visit Romania with a Schengen Visa ?

Yes you can visit Cyprus if you hold a Schengen visa (ideally Multi entry if you plan to enter Schengen zone again), but Cyprus is NOT part of the Schengen Agreement, although there has been talks of integrating her into the Schengen area.

Can I visit Mexico with a valid Schengen visa ?

Yes. If you have a Schengen visa that is not yet expired you need not apply for a Mexico visa as long as your purpose of visit is tourism, business or transit. Just present your visa at the point of entry.

Can I visit Albania if I have a Schengen Visa ?

Yes. You can visit Albania for a maximum period of 90 days if you have a valid Schengen visa.

Can I use my Schengen visa to visit Georgia ?

Yes. If you have a valid Schengen visa you can visit Georgia for 90 days except if you are a citizen of Kosovo, Taiwan or Palestine.

Can I use my Schengen visa to visit Montenegro ?

Yes. Although Montenegro is not part of the Schengen Zone, you can stay in Montenegro for 30 days. If you also hold a Residence permit for United Arab Emirates, then you can stay visa free for upto 10 days.

For this you must have proof of accommodation and confirmed return ticket.

Can i use visit Turkey with a Schengen visa ?

Yes. With a Schengen visa that is valid, you can apply for one month Turkish eVisa which allows you to stay in Turkey for 30 days.

But you must be a citizen of one of the following countries.

Afghanistan	Ethiopia	Niger
Angola	Gabon	North Korea
Bangladesh	Gambia	Pakistan
Benin	Ghana	Philippines
Botswana	Guinea	Republic of Congo
Burkina Faso	Guinea-Bissau	Rwanda
Burundi	India	Sao Tome and Principe
Cameroon	Iraq	Senegal
Cape Verde	Kenya	Sierra Leone
Central African Republic	Lesotho	Somalia
Chad	Liberia	Sudan
Comoros	Libya	Swaziland
Cote d’Ivoire	Madagascar	Tanzania
Democratic Republic of Congo	Malawi	Togo
Djibouti	Mali	Uganda
Egypt	Mauritania	Vietnam
Equatorial Guinea	Mozambique	Yemen
Eritrea	Nepal	Zimbabwe

Can a valid Schengen visa be used to stay in Colombia ?

Yes, with a valid Schengen visa you can stay in Colombia for upto 90 days and you are a citizen of Cambodia, China, India, Macau, Myanmar, Thailand or Vietnam.

The Essential Features of The Schengen Zone

The abolition of borders between European countries has resulted in:

• Nationals of any world country, when in the Schengen Area, to liberally cross the internal borders of the state members, free from border checks
• Shared standards for crossing the external borders
• Harmonized entry and short-stay visa conditions for all state members
• Improved collaboration between the police of member countries
• Privileged judicial collaboration between members, including faster extradition of criminals, and easier relocation for the execution of criminal verdicts
• An advanced shared database, assisting member countries to quickly exchange information about people and goods between them, known as SIS
• Despite the extent of the freedom guaranteed by the Schengen Area, the police enjoy the authority to carry out checks at internal borders and in border areas, in specific circumstances, but this is not considered a border check. The police can require information from people at internal borders about their stay in Schengen Zone and additional associated questions
• If lacking to have complete internal security due to a serious threat, a member country can temporarily reintroduce border checks at its internal borders, but for not more than 30 days